로그인Michael's POV The warehouse had become too quiet. The flickering light above us buzzed faintly, throwing uneven shadows across the concrete floor while cold air drifted through the broken windows high above.In front of me, Theo stood silently, watching me and somehow, that made everything feel worse, because now there was nothing distracting me from the hatred burning inside my chest.I stared at him coldly.“You happy now?”Theo’s jaw tightened immediately and I laughed bitterly.“Was this satisfying for you?” I asked.“Michael—”“No. Don’t say my name like you care" my voice cracked harsher than intended.Theo visibly stiffened then he took a slow breath.“I didn’t know he was going to kill them" he said.I looked at him with disbelief.“You brought Marlo Ramirez into our home.”“I was angry.”“And now they’re dead.”The words echoed sharply through the warehouse and Theo looked away briefly. For once, he actually seemed affected by what he’d done but I didn’t care anymore.“You b
Michael’s POVCold air drifted through the massive abandoned structure from broken windows high above us, carrying the distant sound of traffic somewhere far beyond the industrial district. Henry and I sat tied to metal chairs beneath a flickering overhead light. My wrists burned painfully against the rough restraints every time I moved.Henry looked worse. His face was pale from shock, his eyes red from crying, and there was dried blood near his lip from when one of Marlo’s men had struck him earlier.But what hurt most was the silence between us.Ashley and Nick were dead and neither of us knew how to survive that reality yet.Footsteps echoed through the warehouse and several men entered first then Marlo came through. Anabelle followed beside him elegantly dressed despite the filth of the place, her heels clicking sharply against the concrete floor.Mortis walked behind them quietly and Henry glared at him immediately.“You fucking bastard” he spat out.Marlo studied him quietly.
Michael’s POVThe living room felt suffocating beneath the weight of it all.The shattered remains of the front door lay scattered across the floor while Marlo’s men spread themselves throughout the house with terrifying precision, leaving no possible escape route.Years ago, I had grown used to this kind of atmosphere, but I had forgotten how truly helpless it made you feel when the people you loved stood in the line of fire too.My eyes locked briefly with Henry’s, fear burned behind his anger and that terrified me more than the guns did.“Don’t,” I said quietly the second I noticed him tensing again.Henry’s jaw clenched.“They can’t just—”“Henry.”My tone sharpened immediately.Marlo clearly noticed our conversation then his attention shifted fully toward Henry and he smiled.“Well, look at you” he murmured softly. Henry glared at him instantly.“Stop looking at me.”Anabelle scoffed under her breath.“So disrespectful.”Henry ignored her completely but Marlo, however, continued
Michael’s POVThe living room felt suffocating beneath the weight of it all.The shattered remains of the front door lay scattered across the floor while Marlo’s men spread themselves throughout the house with terrifying precision, leaving no possible escape route.Years ago, I had grown used to this kind of atmosphere, but I had forgotten how truly helpless it made you feel when the people you loved stood in the line of fire too.My eyes locked briefly with Henry’s, fear burned behind his anger and that terrified me more than the guns did.“Don’t,” I said quietly the second I noticed him tensing again.Henry’s jaw clenched.“They can’t just—”“Henry.”My tone sharpened immediately.Marlo clearly noticed our conversation then his attention shifted fully toward Henry and he smiled.“Well, look at you” he murmured softly. Henry glared at him instantly.“Stop looking at me.”Anabelle scoffed under her breath.“So disrespectful.”Henry ignored her completely but Marlo, however, continued
Michael’s POVThe living room felt suffocating beneath the weight of it all.The shattered remains of the front door lay scattered across the floor while Marlo’s men spread themselves throughout the house with terrifying precision, leaving no possible escape route.Years ago, I had grown used to this kind of atmosphere, but I had forgotten how truly helpless it made you feel when the people you loved stood in the line of fire too.My eyes locked briefly with Henry’s, fear burned behind his anger and that terrified me more than the guns did.“Don’t,” I said quietly the second I noticed him tensing again.Henry’s jaw clenched.“They can’t just—”“Henry.”My tone sharpened immediately.Marlo clearly noticed our conversation then his attention shifted fully toward Henry and he smiled.“Well, look at you” he murmured softly. Henry glared at him instantly.“Stop looking at me.”Anabelle scoffed under her breath.“So disrespectful.”Henry ignored her completely but Marlo, however, continued
Michael’s POVThe curtains barely moved beneath my fingers as I checked them again and again.Every passing car outside made my stomach tighten, every distant sound forced my attention toward the window and I hated this feeling.The living room was dim despite the morning sunlight outside because we had kept every curtain in the house closed.I stood near the front window silently watching the faint movement of shadows beyond the curtains while pain throbbed dully through my healing shoulder.A soft clink of ceramic pulled my attention away from the window.Ashley placed two mugs of coffee on the table before sitting beside Nick on the couch.“You’re doing it again,” she said quietly.I glanced at her.“Doing what?”“Watching the curtains every thirty seconds.”Nick sighed tiredly and rubbed his face.“She’s right.”“I’m being careful.”“You’re being paranoid,” Ashley corrected gently.I almost laughed at that but paranoia had kept Henry alive this long.I finally stepped away from th
Archer's POV I slammed the door behind me as I stepped into my mansion, the echo moving through the grand, majestic hall like the wave of my fury. Every heavy footstep I took toward the living room made my anger simmer hotter, and by the time I sank onto the leather couch, it was a raging storm i
Fernando’s POV I didn’t remember the drive home. Not really.My head throbbed with a dull ache as the car rumbled down the private road leading up to my estate. I sat slumped in the backseat of the bulletproof black car, blood dried stiff on the collar of my shirt, crusting the side of my neck.
Michael’s POV I didn’t sleep well. Not because I couldn’t—but because I wouldn’t let myself.The quiet hum of Ashley’s apartment felt louder than ever. I sat curled up in the farthest corner of her walk-in closet, the same place I had hidden while Fernando stood in the doorway and poured his hear
Michael’s POV The café smelled of roasted beans and burnt sugar, a scent that had grown oddly comforting over time. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand, staring blankly at the now-empty tables. “I swear, if one more customer had asked for almond milk after I already poured whole milk, I wou







